You are here: Home

We Defend Assault Civil Forfeiture Driving Drug Serious Crime Sexual Assault Theft & Fraud Weapons Charges

Vancouver Criminal Defence Lawyers

Dedicated. Experienced. Proven Results.

Vancouver based criminal defence lawyers, Mines & Company have, since 1993, maintained a proven record of success defending criminal offences, including assault charges, driving charges, drug charges, serious crimes charges, sexual assault charges, theft and fraud charges, and weapons charges.

Michael Mines, Ryan Johnson, and Ian Gauthier are dedicated to helping their clients obtain the best possible outcomes in every case. Our lawyers are focused solely on criminal law, civil forfeiture, and Motor Vehicle Act defence. We regularly appear in courts throughout Metro Vancouver and the rest of British Columbia. We’ve conducted cases in Alberta, Ontario, and Quebec, as well as the Yukon Territory.

We believe that great communication is the key to every successful case. From initial consultation to extensive trial preparation, we are committed to answering your questions, addressing your concerns and keeping you informed. We understand that to be successful, we must work hard to understand every detail of your case. We will listen to you. We will explore every possible defence. We will prepare sound legal arguments and advance them in court on your behalf. We still strive to communicate your circumstances and your story to police, Crown prosecutors and to the Court.

Recent Successes

R. vs. C.L. – Civil Fraud Investigation

Charge: Fraud/Theft from employer.
Issue: Whether it was in the public interest to proceed with criminal charges.
Result: Mr. Johnson was able to negotiate repayment on our client's behalf and obtained a civil release from the employer. No charges were forwarded to Crown counsel. No criminal record.

R. vs. L.M. – Vancouver Provincial Court

Charges: Assault with a weapon; assault causing bodily harm.
Issue: Given elements of provocation, a potential defence of self-defence, and our client's background as a vulnerable woman, whether it was in the public interest for Crown to continue the criminal prosecution.
Result: Mr. mines was able to persuade Crown counsel to enter a stay of proceedings upon our client succesfully completing the Alternative Measures Program. No criminal record.

R. vs. B.L. – New Westminster Supreme Court (jury).

Charges: Assault with a weapon; assault causing bodily harm.
Issue: Given elements of provocation, a potential defence of self-defence, and our client's background as a vulnerable woman, whether it was in the public interest for Crown to continue the criminal prosecution.
Result: Mr. mines was able to persuade Crown counsel to enter a stay of proceedings upon our client successfully completing the Alternative Measures Program. No criminal record.

R. vs. D.D. – Vancouver Provincial Court

Charges: Fraud Over $5000; Theft Over $5000 (from employer).
Issues: Whether Crown counsel could prove the full amount of the alleged theft and whether our client would be sentenced to jail in this breach of trust case.
Result: Mr. Mines was able to persuade Crown counsel that they could only prove a $49,000 theft rather than the $75,000 allegation. After hearing Mr. Mines' submissions, the Court sentenced our client to an 18 month conditional sentence order. No jail.

R. vs. W.W. – North Vancouver Provincial Court

Charge: Assault causing bodily harm.
Issue: Given the information Mr. Gauthier provided to Crown counsel, whether it was in the public interest to proceed with the criminal prosecution.
Result: Crown stayed the proceedings upon our client entering into the Alternative Measures Program. No criminal record.

R. vs. H.K. – Burnaby RCMP Investigation.

Charges: Mischief Under $5000.
Issue: Given the information Mr. Gauthier was able to provide to the RCMP investigator, whether it was in the public interest for police to forward charges to Crown counsel.
Result: Based on the significant collateral consequences that a criminal prosecution would bring to our client, Mr. Gauthier  persuaded police to not forward any criminal charge whatsoever.

R. vs. H.S. – Vancouver Provincial Court

Charge: Assault causing bodily harm.
Issue: Given the information Mr. Gauthier provided to Crown counsel, whether it was in the public interest to proceed with the criminal prosecution.
Result: Crown stayed the proceedings upon our client entering into the Alternative Measures Program. No criminal record.

R. vs. K.J. – ICBC Fraud Investigation

Charges: Insurance (ICBC) Fraud.
Issue: Whether charges would be forwarded to Crown counsel.
Result: Mr. Gauthier  intervened with the ICBC investigator on our client's behalf and was able to clarify and explain the information that ICBC had flagged as being possibly fraudulent. The matter was resolved with no charges being forwarded to Crown counsel. No prosecution; no criminal record.

R. vs. M.H. – Employee Fraud Investigation

Charges: Theft from Employer.
Issue: Whether the complainant would proceed with a criminal complaint when they discovered $65,000 in fraudulent transactions purportedly committed by our client.
Result: Mr. Johnson was able to successfully negotiate a civil settlement on our client's behalf. No police investigation; no charges; no criminal record.

R. vs. A.C. – Richmond Provincial Court

Charge: Assault.
Issue: Given the rehabilitative steps we were able to guide our client through, whether it was in the public interest to proceed with the criminal prosecution.
Result: Mr. Gauthier was able to persuade Crown counsel to enter a stay of proceedings upon our client completing the Alternative Measures Program. No criminal Record.

R. vs. N.A. – Vancouver Traffic Court

Charges: Speeding (MVA).
Issue: Whether the police officer could prove that our client was speeding, and whether it was in the public interest to proceed with the trial.
Result: Mr. Gauthier was able to provide information to the police investigator that led to the officer withdrawing the violation ticket prior to the trial. The lack of this conviction prevented our client from a significant driving prohibition.

R. vs. K.B. – Vancouver Provincial Court

Charges: Aggravated assault; assault with a weapon.,br> Issue: Given the information Mr. Johnson was able to provide to Crown counsel, whether it was appropriate to contnue with the prosecution on the approved charges.
Result: Mr. Johnson was able to persuade Crown counsel to proceed on the lesser charge of assault causing bodily harm. After hearing Mr. Johnson's submissions on our client's behalf, the trail judge sentenced our client to a suspended sentence with 24 months probation. Our client was able to avoid a lengthy jail sentence.
View all

We serve Metro Vancouver

and all of British Columbia.

We have over 35 years of courtroom experience.

Michael Mines, Ryan Johnson, and Ian Gauthier have a combined total in excess of 35 years’ experience conducting criminal trials. Their trial strategies and courtroom skills are enhanced by both lawyers’ past experience doing Crown prosecution work. Michael, Ryan, and Ian take great pride in the professional relationships they have built over the years with Crown prosecutors, judges and other defence lawyers. The firm has earned a reputation as being highly professional, ethical and dedicated to our clients.

Mines & Company has conducted close to 4,000 client matters over the years. This extensive criminal law experience has given us the depth of knowledge to assess our cases before they get to court. In essence, once we understand the issues of a particular case, we will be able to provide advice as to the probable outcome. Where appropriate, our lawyers will strongly advocate for a successful resolution of charges prior to your trial. Our firm grasp of the facts and the law, coupled with our excellent advocacy skills often allow us to negotiate a resolution that is favourable to our client. We will always strive to “control the outcome” of our case through a successful plea negotiation without the necessity of a trial. However, when we are called upon to argue a case in court – whether at trial or at a sentencing hearing, we find that our excellent preparation and courtroom advocacy pays off. The vast majority of our clients’ cases are resolved favourably.

We defend your rights and freedoms.

Our lawyers work tirelessly to defend your rights. We pride ourselves in fighting to uphold the Charter principles that guarantee Canadians freedom from unreasonable and unlawful police actions. We are dedicated to upholding the values enshrined in the Charter, including:

  • The right to be treated in accordance with principles of fundamental justice;
  • The right to be free from unreasonable search and seizure;
  • The right to be free from arbitrary detention and arrest;
  • The right upon detention or arrest to be informed of the reasons thereof and the right to contact counsel without delay;
  • The right to be tried within a reasonable time; and
  • The right to not be subjected to any cruel or unusual punishment.

Where appropriate, we will apply to the court to have any evidence obtained through a Charter breach excluded from the trial process.

Assault, Drug, Theft and Driving charges

Mines and Company represents people charged with assault (including domestic); drug trafficking; theft; fraud; sex assault; weapons; and driving (including impaired) offences. We appear regularly in all Metro Vancouver courts as well as courts throughout the rest of British Columbia. We have over 35 years experience and have, over the years, achieved an impressive record of success. Our lawyers work tirelessly to defend our client’s rights. We pride ourselves in fighting to uphold the Charter principles that guarantee Canadians freedom from unlawful and unreasonable police actions.

Start with a free consultation.

If you are being investigated by police or if you’ve been charged with a criminal or driving offence, don’t face the problem alone. Being accused of an offence is stressful. The prospects of a criminal record or jail sentence can be daunting. Even if you think there is no defence, we may be able to help. To schedule a free initial consultation with one of our Vancouver lawyers, contact us now.

Connect